Spring 1725

Rosalba Carriera’s “Spring,” housed at the Hermitage Museum, is a pastel portrait that encapsulates Rococo ideals through its delicate textures, soft hues, and emphasis on the sensual. The composition centers on a woman adorned with flowers. Notice how Carriera uses pastel to create a velvety texture that softens every line. The skin is rendered with subtle gradations of pink and cream, and the drapery cascades in gentle folds. The diagonal sweep of the blue fabric contrasts with the gentle upward gaze of the figure, drawing our eye from the lush details to the symbolic elements of the artwork. This juxtaposition of light and shadow, line and form, creates not just a pretty picture but a study in contrast of natural beauty with artistic representation. This reflects broader intellectual tensions of the era, between idealized forms and the raw sensuality of life. Through her delicate pastel strokes, Carriera creates a space where artifice and nature coalesce.